A high-profile will contest hammers home the need for proper estate planning.
Frank Fritz, star of the History Channel show “American Pickers,” suffered a stroke, became incapacitated, and died on September 30, 2024, at age 60. Before he passed away, his friend, Chris Davis, became his legal guardian. Fritz’ will was submitted for probate on October 18, 2024, but its validity is being litigated.
Fritz’ father and a close friend are separately challenging the will, claiming:
- Fritz wasn’t healthy enough to sign the will after his stroke
- Chris Davis wasn’t the best person to serve as Fritz’ guardian
- the will wasn’t properly signed or witnessed.
Reports about Fritz’ health around the time he signed the will conflict. One friend reported that Fritz was in his right mind and able to make his own decisions. Another met with Fritz in May 2023, and they caught up, like old times. Another friend stated that Fritz was in a bad condition months before his death, commenting that Fritz could not lift his arm and he was “totally bedridden.” Yet another friend said that his health had gotten worse since the stroke and “[t]here was no way he was getting better.”
There are also rumors and allegations that Fritz and his father had an estranged relationship, while his father’s counsel claims it was the guardianship that made their relationship distant and prevented him from “having any contact with Fritz whatsoever.”
Now, instead of celebrating Fritz’ life, his friends and fellow “American Pickers” cast and crewmembers can only sit in the wings while the legal battle rages on.
So, what can we glean from this unfortunate story? All adults should have a power of attorney, a healthcare proxy and other estate planning documents in place. While not all probate contests can be eliminated, proper planning with knowledgeable counsel can certainly prepare you for situations like Fritz’.
